The Rabbi and the Professor

A true story for Israel Remembrance Day.

Many years ago when I was a relatively young yeshiva student I had the opportunity to study with one of the great rabbis of the previous generation. His name was Rabbi Yisroel Zeev Gustman and he may have been one of the greatest rabbis of the 20th century. He was certainly the greatest "unknown" rabbi: While he fastidiously avoided the limelight and was therefore unfamiliar to the general public, he was well known to connoisseurs of Torah learning.

His meteoric rise from child prodigy to the exalted position of religious judge in the Rabbinical Court of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski at around the age of 20 was the stuff of legend -- but nonetheless fact. Many years later, I heard Rav Gustman's own modest version of the events leading to this appointment: A singular (brilliant) insight which he shared with his fellow students was later repeated to the visiting Rav Chaim Ozer, who invited the young student to repeat this same insight the following day in his office in Vilna. Unbeknownst to Rav Gustman, the insight clinched an argument in a complex case that had been debated among the judges in Rav Chaim Ozer's court -- and allowed a woman to remarry.

One of the judges adjudicating the case in question, Rabbi Meir Bassin, made inquiries about this young man, and soon a marriage was arranged with his daughter Sarah. When Rabbi Bassin passed away before the wedding, Rabbi Gustman was tapped to take his place as rabbi of Shnipishok and to take his seat on the court. Although Rav Gustman claimed that he was simply "in the right place at the right time," it was clear that Rav Bassin and Rav Chaim Ozer had seen greatness in this young man.

Rav Gustman escaped, though not unscathed. He hid among corpses and in a pig pen. Somehow, he survived.

While a long, productive career on the outskirts of Vilna could have been anticipated, Jewish life in and around Vilna was obliterated by World War II. Rav Gustman escaped, though not unscathed. He hid among corpses. He hid in caves. He hid in a pig pen. Somehow, he survived.

For me, Rav Gustman was the living link to the Jewish world destroyed by the Nazis. I never had to wonder what a Rav in Vilna before the war looked like, for I had seen Rav Gustman, 35 years after the war. At the head of a small yeshiva in the Rechavia section of Jerusalem, Rav Gustman taught a small group of loyal students six days a week. But on Thursdays at noon, the study hall would fill to capacity: Rabbis, intellectuals, religious court judges, a Supreme Court justice and various professors would join along with any and all who sought a high-level Talmud shiur (class) that offered a taste of what had been nearly destroyed. When Rav Gustman gave shiur, Vilna was once again alive and vibrant.

One of the regular participants was a professor at the Hebrew University, Robert J. (Yisrael) Aumann. Once a promising yeshiva student, he had eventually decided to pursue a career in academia, but made his weekly participation in Rav Gustman's shiur part of his schedule, along with many other more or less illustrious residents of Rechavia and Jerusalem.

The year was 1982. Once again, Israel was at war. Soldiers were mobilized, reserve units activated. Among those called to duty was a Reserves soldier, a university student who made his living as a high school teacher: Shlomo Aumann, Professor Yisrael Aumann's son. On the eve of the 19th of Sivan, in particularly fierce combat, Shlomo fell in battle.

"They are all holy."

Rav Gustman mobilized his yeshiva: All of his students joined him in performing the mitzvah of burying the dead. At the cemetery, Rav Gustman was agitated: He surveyed the rows of graves of the young men, soldiers who died defending the Land. On the way back from the cemetery, Rav Gustman turned to another passenger in the car and said, "They are all holy." Another passenger questioned the rabbi: "Even the non-religious soldiers?" Rav Gustman replied: "Every single one of them." He then turned to the driver and said, "Take me to Professor Aumann's home."

The family had just returned from the cemetery and would now begin the week of shiva -- mourning for their son, brother, husband and father. (Shlomo was married and had one child. His widow, Shlomit, gave birth to their second daughter shortly after he was killed.)

Rav Gustman entered and asked to sit next to Professor Aumann, who said: "Rabbi, I so appreciate your coming to the cemetery, but now is time for you to return to your Yeshiva." Rav Gustman spoke, first in Yiddish and then in Hebrew, so that all those assembled would understand:

"I am sure that you don't know this, but I had a son named Meir. He was a beautiful child. He was taken from my arms and executed. I escaped. I later bartered my child's shoes so that we would have food, but I was never able to eat the food -- I gave it away to others. My Meir is a kadosh -- he is holy -- he and all the six million who perished are holy."

Rav Gustman then added: "I will tell you what is transpiring now in the World of Truth in Gan Eden -- in Heaven. My Meir is welcoming your Shlomo into the minyan and is saying to him ‘I died because I am a Jew -- but I wasn't able to save anyone else. But you -- Shlomo, you died defending the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.' My Meir is a kadosh, he is holy -- but your Shlomo is a Shaliach Zibbur – a Cantor in that holy, heavenly minyan."

Rav Gustman continued: "I never had the opportunity to sit shiva for my Meir; let me sit here with you just a little longer."

Professor Aumann replied, "I thought I could never be comforted, but Rebbi, you have comforted me."

Rav Gustman did not allow his painful memories to control his life. He found solace in his students, his daughter his grandchildren, and in every Jewish child. He and his wife would attend an annual parade (on Yom Yerushalayim) where children would march on Jerusalem in song and dance. A rabbi who happened upon them one year asked the Rabbi why he spent his valuable time in such a frivolous activity. Rav Gustman explained, "We who saw a generation of children die, will take pleasure in a generation of children who sing and dance in these streets."

"I think about those shoes every day of my life."

A student once implored Rav Gustman to share his memories of the ghetto and the war more publicly and more frequently. He asked him to tell people about his son, about his son's shoes, to which the Rav replied, "I can't, but I think about those shoes every day of my life. I see them every night before I go to sleep."

On the 28th of Sivan 5751 (1991), Rav Gustman passed away. Thousands marched through the streets of Jerusalem accompanying Rav Gustman on his final journey. As night fell on the 29th of Sivan, 9 years after Shlomo Aumann fell in battle, Rav Gustman was buried on the Mount of Olives. I am sure that upon entering Heaven he was reunited with his wife, his teachers and his son Meir. I am also sure that Shlomo Aumann and all the other holy soldiers who died defending the People and the Land of Israel were there to greet this extraordinary Rabbi.

On December 10th 2005, Professor Robert J. Aumann was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics. I am sure he took with him to Stockholm memories of his late wife Esther, and his son Shlomo. I suspect he also took memories of his Rabbi, Rav Gustman.

May it be the will of God that the People of Israel sanctify His Name by living lives of holiness which will serve as a light to the nations – and may no more children, soldiers or yeshiva students ever need to join that holy minyan in Heaven.

Postscript:

The last time I saw Rav Gustman, I was walking in the Meah Shearim/Geulah section of Jerusalem with my wife and oldest son who was being pushed in a stroller. It was Friday morning and we saw the Rosh Yeshiva, we said hello, wished him "Good Shabbes." Then I did something I rarely do: I asked him to bless my son. Rav Gustman looked at the toddler, smiled and said "May he be a boy like all the other boys."

At first, my wife and I were stunned; what kind of blessing was this? We expected a blessing that the boy grow to be a zaddik -- a righteous man -- or that he be a Talmid Chacham -- a Torah scholar. But no, he blessed him that he should be "like all the boys."

It took many years for this beautiful blessing to make sense to us. The blessing was that he should have a normal childhood, that he have a normal life, that he have his health... Looking back, I realize what a tremendous blessing Rav Gustman gave, and why.

Today, that son -- Matityahu, and our second son Hillel, are soldiers in combat units in the Israeli Defense Forces. Brave, strong, motivated and idealistic, they are wonderful soldiers, wonderful Jews. I pray that they return home safely along with all their comrades, and live normal lives -- "just like all the boys."

(This article is based on a combination of first-hand knowledge and a composite reconstruction of events as retold to me.)

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Rabbi Ari Kahn received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary where he studied with Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. He graduated Yeshiva University with a BA in psychology and an MS degree in Talmud.

He is Director of Foreign Student Programs at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, where he also is a senior lecturer in Jewish studies.

He is a renowned speaker, and has lectured worldwide. Having authored hundreds of articles on the weekly parasha and holidays with a readership in excess of 10,000, Rabbi Kahn is also the author of Explorations, an in-depth analysis of the weekly Torah reading, and Emanations, an in-depth analysis of the Jewish holidays. A new series - "Echoes of Eden" is currently in progress. This is a projected 5 volume set to be published by the OU and Gefen Publishing. The first three volumes are in print and the fourth is in production.

Drawing upon the vast reservoir of rabbinic literature – from Talmud to Midrash, from Zohar to the chassidic masters – Rabbi Kahn combines the mystical explorations of kabbala and chassidism with a highly-intellectual and broad-minded approach to Torah study. He applies psychology, literature and Jewish history to the understanding of esoteric midrashim and the Zohar. Five volumes of "Explorations" have been published in French. He has lived in Israel since 1984 with his wife Naomi and 5 children.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 46

(45)
Esor,
May 3, 2017 2:32 AM

Very touching and inspiring. Thank you for sharing it. Kol ha kavod.

(44)
jim,
May 1, 2017 10:15 AM

excellent work

Hashem, help us all!

(43)
Anonymous,
April 30, 2017 11:27 PM

Thank you for the awesome article. I hope I will emulate this very holy person.

Thank you for the awesome article.May this story be the catalyst for us to emulate his very holy life..

(42)
Ann,
April 30, 2017 3:46 PM

beautiful article

This was a truly beautiful article and gave such lovely picture of who he was. Thank you!

(41)
Anonymous,
February 5, 2017 3:52 AM

one of the most inspiring stories ever written

Rav Gustman, zt'l was an angel in the form of a human

(40)
Shmuel Landesman,
May 11, 2016 7:27 PM

Wow

Thank you for posting this story. I have never before cried when reading a story. I am still crying.

In 1985, I was learning in a different yeshiva in Israel. My friend used to periodically go to the Gustmans for Shabbos (technically, he slept at the daughter's home) and once invited me to go with him. I declined because I felt too unworthy. What a mistake I made.

(39)
Andria,
April 16, 2013 12:58 AM

Beautiful

Thank you for this beautiful story. May your sons both return safely and in good health.

Dear R Kahn
I happen to have just listened (today) to a recording from Shaalvim web site on the ma'aseh with Professor Aumann and Rav Gustman. I encourage you to please listen, to refine the facts in the story, The actual facts are stirring enough, so it is a shame to not recount them as is!
Shkoyach -
Aaron Berger
Shaalvim '78 - ''80

(35)
Hilda,
May 13, 2009 10:55 AM

inspiring

I,too, want to thank you for giving us such inspiration. What a beautiful people we truly are.

(34)
natania etienne,
May 4, 2009 8:35 PM

Thanks I cried over our pains

Thanks In gan Eden surely they are and my husband Gerard went to reach them and they are enjoying learning their.
thank you for this very deep article

(33)
elaine johnson,
May 4, 2009 1:41 PM

Thank You

I to like The Rabbi hope ond soon all our sons will be "just like all the boys"
Where I stand I stand for Israel.
Elaine, Ottawa Canada

(32)
Anonymous,
May 1, 2009 11:17 AM

This is something to carry me into Shabbos

My tissue was right next to me, a story of Jews, "Me KAmcha Yisroel" It's times like this that Hakosh Baruchu is so proud that He is our father and we are his chosen children,May we merit always to bring Nachas to Hashem

(31)
Anonymous,
April 28, 2009 4:36 PM

Prayer for the IDF

after reading this, I'm especially glad that I daily say a prayer composed
for all those who protect Eretz Yisroel.

(30)
Dudu,
April 27, 2009 3:56 PM

I have never read anything more moving in my life .I am a young 17 year old battling with all the conflicting ideologies presnted to me ,and i can not tell u what an impact that article made one me

(29)
sharon,
April 27, 2009 2:31 PM

beautiful

This is my second time reading this. I enjoyed as much as the first time. I'd heard of Rav Gustman from a friend who learned in the Yeshiva. Now I can really appreciate the deep respect he had for the Rav.

(28)
Rachel,
April 26, 2009 7:22 PM

Thank you for this beautiful article. This article really touched me, and although very rarely am I moved to tears by anything, this article did. The Rabbi sounds like a wonderful strong man.

(27)
Herschel,
November 3, 2008 4:56 PM

I missed an opportunity

Like so many others, I was touched by the article. It should be mentioned that Rav Gustman had a yeshiva for some years in Brooklyn. (Interestingly, it was on Eastern Parkway very close to 770 Eastern Parkway, Lubavitch headquarters. I spent about a year at the yesihiva, it was about 1965, and my father and I would occassionally daven at the Yeshiva, especially on Yom Niroim. When I was at the Yeshiva, I was unaware of the Rosh Yeshiva's history, and I don't think any of the other talmidim knew it either, because it never came up in discussion. What I remember was that Rav Gustman was a warm and engaging person with an open, welcoming personality and a smile for everyone. Unfortunately, I was not a very good talmid and would chat with friends when I should have been learning. Now, forty years later, I realize how much I had let a wonderful opportunity slip through my fingers. I could have learned so much from Rav Gustman, both in Torah and in derech eretz and menchlichkeit. More than anything else, the article brings to mind how muchh of an opportunity I missed.

(26)
Nachum,
October 20, 2008 5:29 AM

Rav Gustman's Garden

What a beautiful story. During the war, Rav Gustman hid (among the other places R' Kahn listed) in the forests, finding cover in the bushes and trees.
For the rest of his life, he personally tended to a small patch of trees, bushes, and plants outside of his yeshiva. After all, he said, the plants had saved his life, and now he had to show proper hakarat hatov (appreciation) to them by "repaying" them.

(25)
E Simmonds,
April 4, 2008 1:35 PM

Sensitivity

The Rosh Yeshiva's love of every person knew no bounds until the Holocaust . Then after he said he could love only the jewish people with no bounds. At the shloshim of Rav Avigdor Cyperstein , he learned mishnayes and said the kaddish for his neshama. Before doing so he turned to the daughter and told her that he was explicitly saying the kaddish for her father, but added that in shamaim they might somehow add a nuance of consideration for his wife ( it was year she passed on ) He promised from his part that it was strictly for Rav Cyperstein alone.His sensitivity for others transcended the normal human being's.

May his memory be a blessing & may we meet soon in Yerushalaim

P.S. If any one wishes to share more about the Rosh Yeshiva , I would be happy to share & receive.

(24)
Anonymous,
April 4, 2008 1:35 PM

Yorzeit Date

The Rosh Yeshiva's correct date of Passing is 28 th of Sivan . The 18th is an error.Tiye Nishmoso Tzraror Bi Tzror Hachaim

(23)
Anonymous,
April 29, 2007 5:11 AM

Usually , I read the stories and move on, but Rabbi Kahn's article, The Rabbi and the Professor, moved me to tears. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!

(22)
Anonymous,
April 26, 2007 12:53 AM

When heartfelt stories of fellow yidden are shared, regardless of the type of Jew, it makes me feel proud to be part of such a special nation made up of ubbelievable, uniquely special individuals. It gives my neshoma a soothing massage. Now that is a spa we all need!

(21)
SandraLevine,
April 25, 2007 6:13 PM

A most moving and emotional story. I am still crying as I write this.

(20)
dina gurman,
April 24, 2007 5:19 PM

GREAT people, GREAT stories, GREAT lessons

So touching...The greatness of the Jewish mind & heart are evident.

(19)
Rochel Faust,
April 23, 2007 7:34 AM

A heartbreaking yet heartmaking story everyone should read

Thank you for your beautiful words and reminders of how we need to face everything HaShem sends us with gratitude for how it elevates us in Olam HaZa as well as Olam HaBa

(18)
M Krakauer,
April 23, 2007 6:00 AM

Baby Meir did save lives

I cried as I read this story of the great Rabbi Gustman. His comforting words to Robert J. Aumann were moving and profound. He said that his baby boy had not saved anyone, while Mr. Aumann's son Shlomo died fighting for Israel. I'd like to think the greatness of Rabbi Gustmann made him minimize his son's contribution in order to help comfort Mr. Aumann. I'd also like to think that Rabbi Gustman would have known that the small amount of food that he got from trading his son's shoes helped others to live, and also the suffering of Rabbi Gustman made him even more compassionate to other people's suffering, and also helped him appreciate the value of the children that survived, and those that were born. He could teach others what great miracles they were, and helped him and others learn the intrinsic value of each human being. I heard this story of Robert J. Aumann and his son when Mr. Aumann came to speak as the guest of honor of the annual dinner of synagogue Emek Beracha of Palo Alto, California, of which he became a member when one of his children attended Stanford. The child also attended the shul. Reading this story of Rabbi Gustman gives greater insight to the story of Mr. Aumann. Thank you to Rabbi Kahn for sharing this moving and inspiring story about the great and humble Rabbi Gustman.

(17)
David S. Levine,
April 22, 2007 9:19 PM

Very inspiring

Am Yisroel Chai and We Are One--religious or secular, Orthodox, Conservative or Reform, Hasidic or Mitneged, Ashkenazic or Sephardic we ore one and must be inspired by those who give their lives to save the lives of their fellow Jews and those who give their lives to live in service to the Jewish people.

(16)
mark,
April 22, 2007 11:29 AM

great sacrifices

an incredibly humbling and inspiring story, which brings out the enormous sacrifices that generations of Jews have made for their brothers

(15)
Mordechai Bulua,
April 22, 2007 10:46 AM

Like Father, Like Son

Shlomo Aumann, Zt"l, befriended me at Yeshivat Sha'alvim in Israel, where I studied for two years. He was a great all-around guy, and with his fluent English he made us Americans and Canadians feel at home. He was the nephew of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Meir Schlesinger, Shlit"a, but you would never have known it. He was just one of the guys.

He was beloved by all the b'nei yeshiva. He was serious in his learning, and so very focused. Of course, nothing can bring back Shlomo, Hashem yikom damo, but may the family take comfort in knowing that both son and father were mekadesh Shem Shamayim (sanctified G-d's name) â€” Shlomo in making the ultimate sacrifice to protect Jewish lives, and his father Robert (Yisrael), (may he live till 120), a living symbol of what it means to be a devout Orthodox Jew in the modern world.

.

(14)
Margarita,
May 11, 2006 12:00 AM

very moving

very moving article. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and understanding with us, thak you for writing so greatly about soldiers who fell protecting our land.

(13)
Deborah Scop,
May 9, 2006 12:00 AM

Beautiful article

Rabbi Kahn,
Thanks so much for putting together this wonderful article. It was a very touching tribute to a man I wish I could have known as well. Somehow I seem to remember a Holocaust story about a man who sold his son's shoes. I wonder if it was the same one.

(12)
Margaret,
May 9, 2006 12:00 AM

was very nice to read this article,
whwn i was reading i couldn't stop crying. it shows the love betwen the jewish people and Hashem.
Thank´s
Margaret

(11)
Dr Schmidt,
May 8, 2006 12:00 AM

I am sure this will find you deep in Shabatt glory, not yet here in Los Angeles, As I was reading the last installment of yet another excellent piece by R. Kahn, the one regarding the Rabbi and the professor, for some reason this story touched me in a raw emotional level. Right after finishing the story my daughter called me from the car having just arrived from Israel. She was like most 14 year old that experience Israel for the first time, most excited, happy and forever grateful for the opportunity. Yasher Koaj to you all. To R. Kahn my prayers are that the source from where he gets the insight ,the energy and the capacity for this kind of work will forever continue to flow yet with increasing strength. Shabatt Shalom.

Dr Schmidt
schmidtribe@earthlink.net

(10)
Ruth,
May 8, 2006 12:00 AM

Beautiful

Did anyone read that without crying? I seriously doubt it. What a beautiful yet sad story. Please, more like it.

(9)
Rogério Palmeira,
May 8, 2006 12:00 AM

Warmful text and remembrance

This history brings a sensation of comotion and show a warmful quality of a brilliant rabi.

(8)
walter,
May 7, 2006 12:00 AM

soulsearching

What an incredible beautiful story of wisdom.and sensitvity.
This touched my heart,and makes me regret so much that I am not amongst you in Israel.
however soon G-D willing I shall be back

(7)
Yerachmiel Milstein,
May 4, 2006 12:00 AM

A Beautiful Portrait

I met Rav Gustman as well and like you I was always struck by the combination of his indisputable greatness and his angelic sweetness, which remained unblemished after his terrible personal tragedy. A great contribution to aish.com. Keep 'em coming, rabbi.

(6)
Katherine Augustson,
May 3, 2006 12:00 AM

What a Beautiful Story

This story was so beautiful that I will never forget it. Rabbi was truly a great man but never knew how much of an impact he left on so many, many lives even to this day.
Sincerely
Shalom,
Katherine Augustson

(5)
Shuly weinstein,
May 3, 2006 12:00 AM

This story touched our hearts

We knew Rav Gustman well. He was our Shadchan, was a good friend of my grandfather ztl, and my husband's family, especially my brother-in-law Nechemia Zabrowsky and his family. My husband was one of the first to learn in the Rechavia Yeshiva.
My husband is a Cohen and when we called Rav Gustman from America (not something that was done often in those days) he asked my husband to give him a bracha). Has anyone written down other stories about his life? We would love to read them.

(4)
Judith,
May 3, 2006 12:00 AM

Lag B'Omer?

I enjoyed this touching article very much and would like to read more about Rabbi Gustman. I wonder - was the annual parade of children he attended the massive Lag B'Omer parade? Would anybody reading this know?

(3)
malka,
May 2, 2006 12:00 AM

thank you

Thanks for this article very appropiate for today. I choke as i write these words. may the blessing you finished of with become true. with the coming of moshiach speedly now.

(2)
Judith Feder,
May 2, 2006 12:00 AM

Rav Gustman was unique

Thank you, Rabbi Kahn, for your article on Rav Yisrael Gustman. My late husband, Shlomo Feder, and his family met Rav Gustman shortly after he and his family arrived in America (about 1948), and the two families became very close; in particular, Rav Gustman had a strong attachment to Shlomo's mother and to Shlomo and his brothers, Sam and Joe. (We believe Shlomo had an extra special place in Rav Gustman's heart because he was the same age as the Rav's murdered son.) I met the Gustmans when Shlomo and I became engaged in late 1963 and was immediately enchanted. I have never known a human being like Rav Gustman. I am of course not qualified to comment on his gadlus in learning, but I can comment on his gadlus as a mensch, his honesty and integrity, his optimistic but realistic approach to life, his empathy, and his love for all Hashem's creation. I remember him sitting in my dining room with my children on his lap, and I remember the twinkle in his eye. (The twinkle disappeared after the Rebbetzin's death - she was a very special person, and they had a wonderful relationship.) Our family has many, many stories about Rav Gustman, including some that are known only to us. I treasure his memory. If you want to enrich your knowledge of the Rav, you should contact my brother-in-law, Joe Feder, in Petach Tivka.

(1)
Anonymous,
May 1, 2006 12:00 AM

Thanks for the prespective

Thank you R. Kahn. For those of us living in Israel today it is sometimes difficult to find joy in celebrating Yom Ha'Atzmaut considering the men running our country and their plans to give away our land. Maybe now we can all celebrate on Wednesday the wonderful prople that live here and have died here. May we all offer prayers that our Ultimate Redeemer come speedily.

I was born with a neuromuscular disease known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy and have been confined to a wheelchair my entire life. Unfortunately my sister and I were raised without any religious instruction or guidance. My father wasn't Jewish and although my mother is, she openly claims to be an atheist. The "good news" is that both my sister and myself - independent of each other and at different times in our lives - realized that we are Jewish and chose to live a Jewish life.

Because of my disability, I'm not always able to attend services on Shabbat, but I always light candles, pray from a Siddur and read the weekly Torah portion. I would like to know whether, considering my situation, if using a computer is allowed during the Sabbath? I found the complete Bible online and since my computer is voice-activated I don't have to struggle to turn pages or continuously ask for assistance.

Thank you to everyone at Aish.com for making it possible for myself and so many others to learn about being Jewish and grow in the most important part of our lives.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Thank you so much for your encouraging words and for sharing your inspiring story.

God gives each of us a set of challenges. To those more capable of conquering difficulties, He gave bigger challenges. A challenge from God is a sign that He cares about us and has confidence in our ability to become great.

It sounds like you're doing great!

As for using the computer on Shabbat, that is prohibited. A foundation of Judaism is that we need to respect God's wishes, even if we think that doing otherwise is "for a good reason." Consider this story:

A king calls in his trusted minister and says: "I have an important mission for you to perform. Go to the neighboring kingdom and meet in the palace with their leaders. But remember one thing - under no circumstances must you remove your shirt during this meeting. Now go and do as I say."

The minister sets off on his merry way and soon arrives at the neighboring kingdom. There he heads straight for the palace where he meets with the King. In the midst of their discussion, he sees some of the king's officers pointing and laughing at him.

"Why are you laughing?" asks the visiting minister.

"Because we've never seen someone with such a pronounced hunchback as yourself," they say.

"What are you talking about? I'm not a hunchback!"

"Of course you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"We'll bet you one million dollars that you are!"

"Fine - I'll gladly take your bet."

"Okay, so take off your shirt and prove it."

At which point the minister remembers the parting words of the king... "under no circumstances must you remove your shirt during the meeting." Yet, the minister reasons, a million dollars would certainly bring added wealth to the king's coffers. I know I'm not a hunchback, so I'll surely win the bet. Of course, under these circumstances the king would approve...

The minister removes his shirt and proudly displays his perfect posture. With pride in his achievement, he holds out his hand, into which is placed a check for one million dollars.

The minister can barely contain his excitement. He quickly ends the meeting and runs back to give the wonderful news to his king. "I earned you a million dollars!" exclaims the minister. "It was easy. I only had to remove my shirt to prove that I wasn't a hunchback."

"You did what?!" shouts the king. "But I told you specifically not to remove your shirt. I trusted that you'd follow instructions, and so I bet the other king $10 million dollars that he couldn't get you to remove your shirt!"

The Torah tells us "Do not add or subtract from the mitzvahs." (Deut. 4:2) Jewish law is a precise metaphysical science. Consider a great work of art. Would you consider adding a few notes to a Bach fugue, or some brushstrokes to a Rembrandt portrait?!

Perfection, by definition, cannot be improved upon. Altering Torah law is an unacceptable implication that God is lacking.

The verse in Psalms 19:8 declares: "Torat Hashem Temimah" - the Torah of God is complete. For just as adding one wire to a transistor radio means it no longer can pick up reception, so too we mustn't tinker with Jewish law. The mitzvahs of God are perfect.

May the Almighty give you strength to continue your growth in Judaism.

In 1315, King Louis X of France called back the Jews who had been expelled a few decades earlier by King Louis IX. This marked a theme in Jewish-French life: expulsions and subsequent invitations to return. The French monarchy was trying to establish their land as the "new Jerusalem," and to fulfill this mission attempted several crusades to Israel. In 1615, King Louis XIII ordered that Christians were forbidden to speak with Jews, upon penalty of death. Eventually, in 1683, King Louis XIV expelled the Jews from the colony of Martinique.

Focus on what you do want. Make your goal explicit. “My goal is to increase my moments of joy.” This way, every single moment of joy is a successful moment.

Celebrate each moment of joy. Be grateful every time you experience joy.

Having this goal will place your attention on joy. Instead of feeling bad when you are not joyful, you will experience positive feelings about experiencing more joy.

Each moment of joy in your entire life is experienced one moment at a time. You can’t have more than one moment of joy in any given moment, but you can increase the number of joyful moments. How? By focusing on it.

There is no person on earth so righteous, who does only good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Reading the suggestions for ridding oneself of character defects, someone might say, "These are all very helpful for someone who has character defects, but I do not see anything about myself that is defective."

In the above-cited verse, Solomon states what we should all know: no one is perfect. People who cannot easily find imperfections within themselves must have a perception so grossly distorted that they may not even be aware of major defects. By analogy, if a person cannot hear anything, it is not that the whole world has become absolutely silent, but that he or she has lost all sense of hearing and may thus not be able to hear even the loudest thunder.

In his monumental work, Duties of the Heart, Rabbeinu Bachaye quotes a wise man who told his disciples, "If you do not find defects within yourself, I am afraid you have the greatest defect of all: vanity." In other words, people who see everything from an "I am great/right" perspective will of course believe that they do no wrong.

When people can see no faults in themselves, it is generally because they feel so inadequate that the awareness of any personal defects would be devastating. Ironically, vanity is a defense against low self-esteem. If we accept ourselves as fallible human beings and also have a sense of self-worth, we can become even better than we are.

Today I shall...

be aware that if I do not find things within myself to correct, it may be because I am threatened by such discoveries.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...